Why Miles Austin doesn't work for Dolphins; A Tebow change?

> Posted by Dave Hyde on February 22, 2010 07:42 AM

1. Here's the question of the Dolphins off-season: Do they go after Arizona free-agent linebacker Karlos Dansby and draft Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant (if he's still there) with the No. 1 pick? Or do they look at a restricted free-agent receiver like Miles Austin, as Sports Illustrated's Peter King mentions as a possibility today.

The problem with Austin is the expense. There are four Pro Bowl receivers on the restricted free-agent market, and you'd think their teams will structure deals so the players would cost cost first- and third-round picks in addition to big contracts (San Diego's Vincent Jackson, the Jets' Braylon Edwards and Denver's Brandon Marshall are the other three).

So even if the Dolphins are interested in Austin, it'd be smarter to plow big money into Dansby and hope Bryant falls to them. Of course, even if Bryant is available at their 12th overall pick, they might go with someone like Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain.

Bottom-line: A team with so many needs can't justify essentially trading three players (two draft picks and the contract that precludes another free agent) for a great receiver like Austin.

"... There are things that I can get a lot better at -- my fundamentals,'' he said in Nashville where he's being coached by former pro coaches Marc Trestman and Zeke Bratkowski. "I've never been asked to shorten or quicken my release and not have a loop in it. The changes I'm making have gone very well and it's becoming more and more natural to me."

He added: "I want to get better. I want to be around people who will push me. I will do anything to get better. Without hearing the criticism, I would have done it. It's made me more confident, more accurate. And that's not to say I haven't had this type of coaching in the past. I just have had different coaching than this NFL style."

Look, his coaching at Florida won a Heisman and two national titles. But why wasn't his obvious, long delivery changed in four years there?

3. For anyone who longs to watch good hockey and doesn't get it with the Panthers, there was Sunday. Russians beat Czechs. U.S. beat Canada (expect former goalie Panther Roberto Luongo into the Canadian nets after Martin Brodeur's game). Sweden beat Finland. As good a day of hockey watching as you can get.

4. Maybe Olympics skiier Lindsey Vonn had the best take on the Tiger Woods episode. According to Time magazine: "When a member of her Vonn-tourage tells her that Woods gave a few friends hugs after ending his statement, she cracks, "They're like, 'Yeah, you're awesome, you go have that sex.' "

The room breaks into a laugh. Then she describes a skit she would want to perform if asked to host Saturday Night Live: picture Vonn at Woods' podium, blue backdrop and all.

"There's something you don't know about me," Vonn says in a faux solemn, apologetic voice. "Tiger, you're like my idol, and I too have a sex problem."